Category: Banking and Finance
UK removes Sri Lanka from the red list for entering England
Sri Lanka will move to the amber list for entering England from 22 September 2021, updating its foreign travel advice, the Government of the United Kingdom said. Currently, Sri Lanka is on the red list for entering England. Research conducted by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed Sri Lanka’s economy could face […]
United States Delivers USD40 Mn to Support Small Businesses & Empower Sri Lankan Women
The United States has provided $40 million in financing to SDB Bank in order to bolster Sri Lanka’s Small and Medium sized Enterprise (SME) sector and assist women entrepreneurs. The loan is part of $265 million in funding the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is providing to Sri Lankan banks, including SDB Bank, DFCC […]
Weak Operating Environment Continues to Pressure Sri Lankan Banks’ Ratings: Fitch
Heightened risks from the challenging operating environment stemming from the Sri Lanka sovereign’s (CCC) weak credit profile and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic continue to pressure the ratings of large Sri Lankan banks, says Fitch Ratings in a new report. Large banks’ financial performance since the pandemic’s onset has been better than we expected, supported by […]
Standard Chartered wins ‘Most Responsive Bank against COVID-19’ Award from ADB
Standard Chartered affirmed its position as one of the largest trade finance counter parties of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), winning the ‘Most Responsive Bank against COVID-19’ Award at the Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program Awards 2021. The Bank won the award for its partnership with ADB to finance the import of 15.4 million […]
‘s Basel III Sub Debt A-(lka)(EXP)
Fitch Ratings has assigned the proposed Basel III-compliant subordinated unsecured debentures of Sri Lanka’s National Development Bank PLC (NDB, A+(lka)/Stable) an expected National Long-Term Rating of ‘A-(lka)(EXP)’. The proposed debentures will total up to LKR8 billion with maturities of five and seven years, and will be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. NDB plans to […]
Sri Lankan import restrictions at odds with WTO rules hurt welfare of citizens: Economists
A panel of eminent economists urged that the Government take credible and decisive action to carry out immediate trade reforms. Advocata’s Academic Chair Dr. Sarath Rajapatirana, emphasised that “Countries that have grown very fast, especially in east asia have understood the importance of trade reform”. Further adding that the first step of such a reform […]
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Fitch Ratings has assigned Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC’s (CB, AA-(lka)/Stable) proposed Sri Lankan rupee-denominated Basel III-compliant subordinated debentures of up to LKR10 billion a final National Long-Term Rating of ‘A(lka)’. The final ratings are the same as the expected ratings assigned on 24 June 2021 (and subsequently affirmed on 3 August 2021) and follow […]
Nations Trust Bank Enables Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises
Employing over 70% of the working population in Sri Lanka, SMEs are responsible for nearly a third of the country’s industrial output with a sizeable contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Production (GDP). And yet, SMEs are faced with multiple challenges whenever market disruption happens, as evidenced during the Coronavirus pandemic. In this background, Nations […]
Opinion: Avoiding IMF won’t help us avoid austerity
Naqiya Shiraz and Rehana Thowfeek Sri Lanka’s debt problems are a topic of national conversation. Foreign reserves, already low at USD 4bn in May 2021 fell to USD 2.8bn after the most recent bond repayment of USD 1bn in July 2021 . The Government claims that the timely repayment of the bond is proof that doomsayers […]
Central Bank sets maximum interest rate on foreign currency deposit accounts of banks
Considering the anomalies in the interest rates offered and paid by licensed commercial banks on the rupee and foreign currency deposits, the Monetary Board of the Central Bank has issued an order on maximum interest rates to be paid in respect of foreign currency deposit products of licensed commercial banks and the National Savings Bank. […]
“GLX Digital Evolver” powers transformation of tourism through digital evolution
Good Life X (GLX) in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Sri Lanka – via ‘GLX Digital Evolver’ pursue the growth and evolution of Sri Lanka Tourism in partnership with leading industry experts. The recently launched programme which is aimed at empowering businesses in Sri Lanka’s Travel & Tourism Sector to evolve digitally, […]
Sampath Bank Introduces Sri Lanka’s First Touchless Cash Withdrawals Across Its ATM Network
Sampath Bank announced the introduction of Touchless Cash Withdrawals at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) for the first time in Sri Lanka, and possibly the first time in the region. State Minister of Money & Capital Markets and State Enterprise Reforms, Ajith Nivard Cabraal was the Chief Guest at the commissioning of this service at the […]